DISNEY
AND JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS’ EPIC ADVENTURE “THE LONE RANGER” BEGINS
PRODUCTION
Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer and International
Cast Star in Thrilling Reinvention of Classic Tale Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
and Directed by Gore Verbinski
BURBANK, Calif. (February 28, 2012) —
Production has commenced on location in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado
on Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ epic adventure “The Lone Ranger.” The
film reunites the filmmaking team of the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean”
blockbusters—producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski—with Johnny
Depp, who created Captain Jack Sparrow in his iconic, Academy Award®-nominated
performance and contributed the voice of the title character of Verbinski’s
Academy Award-winning “Rango.”
Depp plays spirit warrior Tonto in “The Lone
Ranger,” with Armie Hammer (“The Social Network,” “J. Edgar”) starring in the
title role. Depp and Hammer are joined by a prestigious international cast which
includes Tom Wilkinson, two-time Academy Award nominee (“Michael Clayton,” “In
the Bedroom”) and Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner (“John Adams”); William
Fichtner (Jerry Bruckheimer’s productions of “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor” and
“Black Hawk Down”); Emmy Award-winner Barry Pepper (TV’s “The Kennedys,” “True
Grit,” “Saving Private Ryan”); James Badge Dale (“The Grey,” TV’s “The Pacific”
and “Rubicon”); Ruth Wilson (television’s “Jane Eyre” and “Luther”); and
two-time Academy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe nominee Helena Bonham
Carter (“The King’s Speech,” “Alice in Wonderland”). The film is slated to open
on May 31, 2013.
“The Lone Ranger” is a thrilling adventure
infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life
through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts
the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law,
into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic
surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work
together and fight against greed and corruption.
“The Lone Ranger” is written by Ted Elliott
& Terry Rossio of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Eric Aronson and Justin
Haythe. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Ted Elliott, Terry
Rossio, Eric Ellenbogen and Eric McLeod.
Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski are
joined by a remarkable team of behind-the-scenes artists, including director of
photography Bojan Bazelli (Verbinski’s “The Ring,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”); visual
consultant Mark “Crash” McCreery (production designer of Verbinski’s “Rango);
costume designer Penny Rose (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films); film editor
James Haygood (“Panic Room,” “Fight Club”); visual effects supervisor Tim
Alexander (“Rango,” three “Harry Potter” films); Academy Award®-winning special
effects supervisor John Frazier, a 10-time nominee whose previous collaborations
with Jerry Bruckheimer have included “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor” and, with
Verbinski as well, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”; and stunt
coordinator Tommy Harper (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2”).
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Gore
Verbinski has enjoyed tremendous box office success as the innovative director
of both character-driven franchises and thoughtful genre-bending fare. Most
recently, Verbinski released his first animated film, the smash hit “Rango,”
starring Johnny Depp. Grossing over $240 million worldwide, the film won the
Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as BAFTA and Annie awards,
and received Golden Globe® and PGA nominations. Verbinski previously helmed the
hit franchise “Pirates of the Caribbean,” directing the first three films
starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley. The films have collectively grossed
nearly $3 billion worldwide since release. He made his directorial debut with
“Mouse Hunt,” starring Nathan Lane, followed by the road movie “The Mexican,”
starring Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini. He also directed the
smash horror film “The Ring,” starring Naomi Watts.
Verbinski is also a successful award-winning
commercial director, having been honored with four Clio Awards and a Cannes
Silver Lion Award for his work on an assortment of memorable advertising spots.
In addition, he directed music videos for bands including Bad Religion and
Crystal Method.
First in partnership with Don Simpson, and
then as the chief of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Bruckheimer has produced an
unprecedented string of worldwide smashes, impacting not only the industry, but
mass culture as well. Bruckheimer’s films include (producing with Don Simpson)
“Top Gun,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Beverly Hills Cop 2,” “American Gigolo,”
“Flashdance,” “Bad Boys,” “Dangerous Minds,” “Crimson Tide,” “The Rock,” and
(producing solo) “Con Air,” “Armageddon,” “Enemy of the State,” “Gone in 60
Seconds,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Remember the Titans,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Black Hawk
Down,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Bad Boys II,”
“Veronica Guerin,” “King Arthur,” “National Treasure,” “Pirates of the
Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,”
“National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and the 2011 blockbuster “Pirates of the
Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
On television, Bruckheimer had an
unprecedented 10 television series airing in the 2005-6 season, a record in the
medium for an individual producer. JBTV’s series include “C.S.I.: Crime Scene
Investigation” and its spinoffs “C.S.I.: Miami,” “C.S.I.: NY” and “Without a
Trace,” “Cold Case” and the eight-time Emmy® Award-winner “The Amazing
Race.”
Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Television have
been honored with 41 Academy Award® nominations, six wins, eight GRAMMY® Award
nominations, five wins, 23 Golden Globe® nominations, four wins, 105 Emmy® Award
nominations, 21 wins, 30 People’s Choice nominations, 15 wins, numerous MTV
Awards, including one for Best Picture of the Decade for “Beverly Hills
Cop.”
“The Lone Ranger” will film exteriors and
studio work in New Mexico, followed by locations in Arizona, Utah and
Colorado.
Source Walt Disney Pictures
